Container filling method and apparatus



Sept. 6, 1966 H. R. HUGHES 3,270,783

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1963 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Q HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 H. R. HUGHES CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 INVENTOR HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES waac j fizz 0 ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1

H. R. HUGHES CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES BY/MMM' 7% ATTORNEYS H. R. HUGHES CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Sept. 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 5 FIG {36 s FIG. 4

INVENTOR HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 H- R. HUGHES CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 INVENTOR HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 H. R. HUGHES 3,270,783

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR HARLEY ROLAND HUGHES BZJMMMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 270 783 CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Harley Roland Hughes, Summit, N.J., assignor to Colgate- Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,668 15 Claims. (Cl. 141-1) This invention relates to the filling of containers in automatic machinery and particularly to a method and apparatus wherein containers are filled with particulate material by means of constant volume measuring tube means that sealingly engage the container rims during the filling operation. The invention is applicable. to the filling of the usual fibre containers and light weight molded plastic containers.

Automatic machinery for filling moving rows of containers with particulate material is in use wherein open top containers are advanced in a row toward filling apparatus, moved up a ramp into free telescoping engagement with measuring and filling tube means depending from a reservoir turntable rotating on a vertical axis whereby each container is filled with the same volume of material, within acceptable limits, during part of its movement around the turntable, and then the filled containers are disengaged fromv the tubes and moved down the ramp onto a takeway conveyor. For example such machinery is disclosed in US. Letters Patent No. 2,928,438 issued March 15, 1960, to R. T. La Pier et al. The filling tube means disclosed in said patent comprises telescoped tubes that bottom in the containers being filled whereby the volume varies in accord with container size.

While the foregoing apparatus has proved satisfactory in most respects it requires that each measuring and filling tube means actually bottom within the container during filling. Present container designs tend to be longer and have more restricted mouth areas available for filling, and where the filling tube means must bottom in the container undesirably low filling rates prevail according to present day requirements of high speed production. Shorter filling tubes have been proposed but they do not provide the variable volume required for filling with a fluidizable material as Ajax cleanser powder for example.

The present invention provides a relatively short tube variable volume filling arrangement which fills each similar container with essentially the same volume at higher speeds than hitherto considered possible.

It is the major object of this invention to provide a novel filling arrangement and method for introducingconsistently equal, within acceptable limits, volumes of fluidizable particulate material into a succession of containers passing through a filling machine at relatively high speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of filling containers with particulate material wherein material is introduced into a sealed container and the volume is controlled by the entrapped air within the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel relatively short measuring and filling tube assembly for automatic filling machines.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel measuring and filling tube assembly for particulate material consisting essentially of relatively slidable telescoped inner and outer filling tubes, with the outer tube provided with an annular zone for substantially air tight sealing engagement with the container mouth during filling. Pursuant to this object of sealing zones may preferably be longitudinally tapered annular surfaces on the lower tubes or axially facing deformable seats on the lower tubes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel filling assembly for particulate material wherein a rotata- "ice ble reservoir table is formed with a plurality of apertures in a row around its periphery, and a series of variable volume measuring and filling tube assemblies depend from the table comprising upper tubes secured at their upper ends within said apertures and lower tubes slidably telescoped with said upper tubes, each of said lower tubes having an annular zone for air tight sealing with a container to be filled.

Further objects of the invention may appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partially broken away and sectioned showing an automatic filling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view partially broken away and sectioned showing the tube filling arrangements;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation mainly in section showing. further the apparatus of FIGURE 1 with one container shown entering the ramp and another container shown in filling position on the ramp telescoped with the filling tube means;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing association of the container and measuring and filling tube means as the container rises up along the ramp after telescoping with the filling tube means;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the container in filling position sealingly engaged with the filling tube means;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional views showing a container in initial and sealing engagement respectively with two other diflferent forms of tube means respectively; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the invention as used in filling cylindrical fibre containers.

Referring to FIGURES 1-3 the filling apparatus includes a reservoir 11 for particulate material. The reservoir bottom wall 12 is a circular horizontal plate and an upstanding cylindrical side wall 13 is fixed to plate 12 around its outer periphery. Plate 12 is supported to rotate on the vertical axis of a drive shaft 14 which is supported in a bushing 15 and secured by flange 16 to the lower end of plate 12. Shaft 14 is driven by a chain 17 extending between sprocket 18 and a power driven sprocket 19 suitably connected to an electric motor (not shown). Bushing 15 is mounted on the support.

Rigid with plate 12 is a depending cylindrical member 21 coaxial with shaft 14, and externally member 21 is formed With a series of equally spaced flutes 22 defining outwardly open pockets each of which as will appear is gill'apted to receive and move one of the containers during ing.

A stationary top cover 28 extend-s over the upper end of the rotating section of the reservoir and a cylindrical cover side Wall 24 extends down outside the rotatable wall 16. Particulate material enters the reservoir through a conduit 25 entering an opening in cover 23.

Internally cover 23 is provided with a depending fixed partition 26 which defines a sector shaped compartment 27 that is closed at the top by the cover and is open at its bottom to the upper flat horizontal sunface of plate 12. The lower edge of partition 26 has close sliding clearance with plate '12, and the radial end sections 28 and 29 of the partition have close sliding clearance with the rotating wall 13, so that no particulate material enters compartment 27 during operation. In the illustrated embodiment compartment 2'7 extends over a sector of less than F.

A plurality of equally spaced circular apertures Bil are formed in a circular row near the outer periphery of plate 12. As shown in FIGURE 2, these apertures 31 are located to traverse the bottom of compartment 27 when plate 12 rotates, and they otherwise underlie the particulate material on plate 12.

Secured to the underside of plate 28 at all of the apertures 31 are similar measuring and filling tube assemblies 32, rather diagrammatically shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, but shown in enlarged detail in FIGURES 4 and because this is the most important part of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, each measuring and filling tube assembly comprises an upper tube 33 having its upper thick end 34 fixed to plate 12 within aperture 31, and the upper edge 35 of tube 33 lies in the same plane as the horizontal upper surface 36 of plate 12.

Tube 33 provides a vertical axis cylindrical surface 37 on which is axially slidably mounted in telescoping relation a lower tube 38 having a cylindrical inner surface 39. A radial stop flange 41 on tube 33 extends over adjacent upwardly facing stop surfaces 42 which comprise the lower flanged ends of stop members 43 secured upon the bottom of plate 12. Flange 41 tests on stop surfaces 42 to define the lowermost position of tube 38 relative to tube 313 as shown in FIGURE 4. This is the relative position of the tubes 3-3 and 38 when they are passing through most of the sector defined by compartment 27. FIGURE 4 shows a container 44 as it is rising about to engage the filling tube assembly for filling, and FIGURE 5 shows the container in filling position sealed with the tube assembly.

The external surface 45 of lower tube 38 is smoothly downwardly decreasingly tapered toward its lower edge 46 that defines the material discharge mouth. The surface 45 is smooth and may be polished, or may be provided with a smooth electrodeposited coat of nickel, chromium or the [like for wear resistance. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 the container 44 which is preferably blow molded from polyethylene or some equivalent lightweight flexible plastic material, has integral bottom and side walls and is formed around its upper end with an open restricted diameter mouth structure that includes an internal annular bead 47 below an inturned edge lip 48.

In the invention as will appear the container 44 moves along an inclined ramp indicated at 49 until it rises up into telescoping relationship with the lower tube 38. FIGURE 4 shows this phase just before the container mouth struc- .ture closely engages the surface 45. At this time the lower tube 38 is freely suspended from stop surfaces 42. As the container rises the relatively resilient mouth structure engages and slides up tapered surface 45 until it is in air tight gripping engagement, and the container and lower tube 38 move upwardly together until the high point of the ramp is reached as shown in FIGURE 5 This is the container filling position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a series of empty containers 44 in single file are advanced into the filling machine on the upper horizontal flight of :an endless belt assembly 51.

These containers are taken off the belt and fed in predetermined spaced relation onto the lower end of ramp 49 which is rigidly mounted on the support as by posts 52. This is accomplished by a spacer wheel 53 having container receiving pockets 54 and driven counterclockwise in FIGURE 2 through shaft 5 5 and gear 56 meshed with the power driven gear 57. Referring to FIGURE 3 it will be seen that as wheel 53 rotates it sweeps each container 4 4 in turn off the belt and across a horizontal guide surface 58 onto the lower end of ramp 49.

In FIGURE 3 a container is shown just starting up ramp 49. The rotation of spacer wheel 53 is so synchronized with that of plate 12 that the container moving up the ranrp is directly below and substantially coaxial with a filling tube assembly 32 and moving at substantially the same speed as the filling tube assembly. Thus the rising container telescopes with the filling tube assembly 32 and, guided by the ramp, moves into a pocket between flutes 22 of rotating member 21. The spacer wheel 53 retains control of the container until it has moved up to telescope with the filling tube assembly and is safely in its pocket between the flutes. NOlW engagement of the container with the filling tube assembly and the flutes moves the container clockwise in FIGURE 2 and along the horizontal section 61 of the ramp, substantially in the relationship shown .at the right side in FIGURE 3.

As will be described, the containers are filled with material from the reservoir as they move along horizontal ram-p section 61, and then each container starts down the ranrp at the inclined exit end toward another pocketed spacer wheel 62 rotated from a shaft 63 carrying a gear 64 meshed with power gear 57. Preferably gear 64 is also meshed with a gear 65 that through bevel gears 66 drives a shaft 67 geared at 68 to rotate belt drive pulley 69.

Referring to FIGURE 2 the filled containers 44 are moved off :the ramp back onto the horizontal upper flight of belt 51 and carried away to a cap applying device or the like.

In general the foregoing mechanical arrangements for moving containers into the machine, during filling and out of the machine are essentially as disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,928,438, to which reference is made for needed further detail. The present invention relates mainly to the improvement of incorporating sealing filling tube arrangements such as those of FIGURES 4-8 into the apparatus.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the container is at its uppermost position with the resilient neck structure fairly tightly gripping surface and the outer tube raised from the stop surfaces 42. The relationship of parts is such that bead 47 has air tight sealing engagement with tube 38, and the lower ends of both tubes are well above the bottom of container 44 during filling. In practice the taper of surface 45 is definite, usually in the order of seven to ten degrees for plastic containers and about fifteen to twenty five degrees for cylindrical fibre containers. It should be sufficient to gradually expand the container mouth sufficien'tly to provide the necessary tightness of seal, but it should not be so steep that it either splits the container or causes the container to grip the tapered surface so tightly that the filled container will not readily detach from tube 38 under its own weight as it moves down the ramp.

The empty container which is moving with plate 12 clockwise in FIGURE 2 assumes the elevated FIGURE 5 position before it passes under partition end section 29, and after it passes section 29 it will be seen from FIG- URE 2 that the associated aperture 31 will now be disposed under the particulate material in the reservoir which falls freely down into the container. As the particulate material, which here is cleansing powder, flows into the container it fills the container from the bottom and as the material level rises above the lower end of tube 38 the air entrapped outside the filling tube assembly within the container, which cannot escape because of the sealed neck structure, becomes compressed and limits the final level of material within the container.

Thus by the time the container reaches the other end section 28 of the partition (FIGURE 2) the aperture 31 and the filling tube assembly are completely filled, and the product material has accumulated to a predetermined level within the container up around the outside of the filling tube assembly as permitted by the entrapped compressed air thereabove. Then the container passes under partion end section 28 which effectively scrapes off the particulate material level with surfaces 35, 36 in FIG- URES 4 and 5.

Now the container and filling tube assembly contain and enclose an accurately measured predetermined volume of the particulate material. Each lower tube 38 is of the same size, and the container months are all of the same diameter, so that in the FIGURE 5 position the tube 38 is always raised the same amount in each variable volume filling tube assembly and the same volume of material is enclosed in the filling tube assembly. Since the container mouths are all of the same size so that each tube 38 is raised to the same position, and since the level of the particulate material is always the same small amount above the lower end of tube 38, a constant volume of particulate material is supplied to each filling tube assembly and container.

After the filled container passes under partition end 28, it enters the descending ramp section and slides down to wheel 62 for removal to the belt. The weight of each container 44 and its contents is suffcient to break the friction of the neck seal with surface 45 and allow this downward movement.

FIGURE 6 shows a further embodiment which differs essentially only in the character of outer tube 71 of the filling tube assembly, being otherwise the same as FIG- URE 5. In this construction the outer tube 71 is mainly cylindrical with an axial relatively short annular tapered conical surface 72 which seals with the resilient container neck structure as the container rises on the ramp.

FIGURE 7 shows a further embodiment which also differs essentially only in the filling tube assembly. Here the upper tube is rigidly mounted in the plate aperture 31, as in FIGURES 1-6, but the slidable lower tube 73 is formed with a downwardly facing annular shoulder 74 on which is an annular seat washer 75 of rubber or like soft deformable material. As the container 44 rises its lip 48 engages the soft seat 75 and seals air tight therewith as the tube 73 displaced upwardly. In this embodiment the lowermost position of tube 73 is determined by a stop pin 76 fixed on tube 33* and extending into a slot 77 on tube 73. Pin 76 abuts the top of slot 77 when no container is engaged with the filling tube assembly. This stop arrangement can be used in FIGURES 1-6 instead of stops 43, and the stops 43 can be used in FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for filling cylindrical cans wherein the side walls are of the usual fibre material and made by helical wrapping of strips of fibreboard or the like on a mandrel and adhesively securing the overlapping strips together.

The container 80 has a cylindrical fibre side wall 81 and is closed. at its bottom by a suitable closure 82. The upper end of the wall 81 comprises a lip 83 circularly surrounding the top opening.

The inner tube 33 of assembly 84 in this embodiment is mounted on plate 12 as in the other embodiments, but the outer tube 85 is of different construction to coact with the cylindrical can 80. Actually the outer tube 85 is of the same general design as outer tube 71 of FIGURE 6 except that its tapered surface 86 which is adapted to engage can lip 83 is of steeper inclination with respect to the vertical.

Outer tube 85 has an internal cylindrical surface 87 having sliding fit with surface 37 of inner tube 33, and it tapers externally at its lower end at 88 toward the rim 89. Tube 85 has a side slot 91 coacting with a stop pin 92 on tube 33 similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 7 for providing the necessary limited sliding movement between the outer and inner measuring tubes. Tube 84 also has an upper stop flange arrangement 93, for use when the stop system of FIGURE 6 is employed.

In operation in this embodiment, the can 80 moves up the ramp into telescoping relationship with outer tube 85 and its lip 83 engages and slidably moves up tapered surface 86 until it wedges air tight. Due to inherent flexibility of the fibre wall lip 83 will essentially be slightly expanded by the time the seal is made. A cylindrical can of this nature has been found to require a somewhat steeper angle of taper than the plastic can of FIGURE 6, the angle of surface 86 here being preferably between 15 and 25 degrees to the vertical.

It will be noted that the outer tubes of the embodiments of FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 all are supported on the same inner tubes, so that for different types of can filling the outer tubes may be readily replaced to convert from filling plastic to fibre cans for example with a minimum of labor and time involved.

It will be apparent that for different types of can material and shapes different angles of taper may be used in filling apparatus corresponding to the embodiments of FIGURES 4-6 and 8 for obtaining optimum related air tight sealing during filling and effective disengagement after filling.

While a continuous ramp 49 if shown for the foregoing embodiments the invention is equally applicable to filling machines wherein the containers are supported on a sequence of individually movable platforms which, through a suitable cam arrangement, elevate the containers onto the filling tube assembly and lower the filled cans to a discharge point.

The filling operation sequence is the same in the FIG- URE 6 and 8 embodiments as in FIGURES 1-5.

The invention provides in all embodiments a measuring and filling tube assembly length which is much shorter than considered possible, while retaining the advantages of the variable volume filling tube assembly. Whereas in prior art telescoped filling tube arrangements such as disclosed in said La Pier et al. patent it was considered necessary to bottom the filling tube assembly in the container, the present invention does away with such requirements, and the filling tube assembly length of the invention is less than one-half that of the earlier automatic machines. For some containers in practice, the filling tube length is reduced from 13 to 6 inches, and in others from 20 to 8 inches, using the invention.

This markedly shorter filling tube length in the invention has many beneficial results. The time and distance required for elevation of containers are both reduced, and this reduces the overall height of the filling machine. Further, since the plate 12 is rotating at a constant speed, the arc length of compartment 27 may be reduced as compared to prior machines, and this means that actually filling takes place over a longer portion of the plate circumference. As a result plate 12 can 'be rotated faster during filling of a given number of filling tubes, and the whole process is speeded up with increased output.

It will be particularly observed that in all embodiments the container is sealed to the measuring and filling tube during filling. If this is not done the fluidized particulate material will rise in the container an indeterminate amount until the fluid head in the filling tube is equalized by the level of material outside the tube and until the fluidizing air has escaped and the product becomes less fluid. This not only provides inaccuracies in measurement of the volume but it is slow. The invention has no such drawback.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the mean ing and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a method of filling an open top otherwise airtight container with predetermined volume of flowable particulate product Wherein a filling tube depending from and open to a reservoir of said product is inserted into the container through said open top, the steps of peripherally seal-ing the container substantially air tight with said filling tube by relatively axially moving said container and tube until the container rim surrounding said opening peripherally engages an annular external surface of said tube in airtight relation while introducing product from the reservoir through the tube into the container until the inserted tube is filled to a predetermined level, and

then separating the container from the tube and permitting the remaining contents of the tube to discharge into the container.

2. In a method of filling an airtight container having flexible wall means surrounding a top opening with a predetermined volume of flowable particulate product wherein a filling tube depending from and open to a reservoir of said product is inserted into the container through said opening, the steps of urging said container and tube together axially until the tube side wall is peripherally gripped in airtight relation by said flexible wall opening while introducing product from the reservoir through the tube into said container until the inserted tube has been filled to a predetermined level, and separating the container from the tube and permitting the remaining contents of the tube to discharge into the container.

3. In apparatus for filling an open top moving container with a predetermined volume of flowable particulate product, said apparatus being of the type wherein a hollow filling tube depending from a movable reservoir of said product and having an axially facing sealing surrfaoe is inserted through the open top of said container, the improvement that comprises means for introducing product from the reservoir through the insert tube until the tube has been filled to a predetermined level of product, means for peripherally sealing said container and tube together during introduction of said product through .the tube into said container comprising means for axial- ;ly urging said container and tube together until the periphery of said opening engages said surface in airtight relation, and means for subsequently separating the tube and container while permitting the contents of the tube to discharge into and complete filling of the container.

4. In apparatus for filling an open top moving container with a predetermined volume of flowable particulate product, said apparatus being of the type wherein a hollow filling tube depending from a movable reservoir is inserted through the open top of said container, the improvement that comprises means for introducing product from said reservoir through said inserted tube int-o said container until the tube is filled to a predetermined level of product, a tapered annular wall on said tube, means relatively axially urging said tube and container toward each other to establish the external surface of said tapered wall in peripheral sealing engagement with the opening top of said container during introduction of said product through said tube int-o the container, and means for then separating the container from said tube while permitting discharge of the remaining product in said tube into the container.

5. In automatic container filling apparatus of the type characterized by a moving reservoir containing a supply of flowable product and having a series of apertures in its bottom wall and hollow measuring and filling tu'be means depending from said reservoir at said apertures, each of said tube means comprising an upper tube fixed to the reservoir and a lower tube vertically slidably mounted on said upper tube, said lower tube having external peripheral means for sealing engagement with the open top of said container means for relatively axially moving said each container and tube means until the lower tube is inserted into the container in peripheral- =ly sealed relation with said open top of the container,

means for introducing product from the reservoir through said apertures into said tube means until each of said tube means is filled to a predetermined product level, and

means for subsequently separating each said container from its inserted lower tube while permitting the contents of said tube means to discharge into and complete filling .of said container. 6. In the apparatus defined in claim 5, said peripheral means on the lower tube being a tapered surface of decreasing diameter toward the lower end of said lower tube.

7. In the apparatus defined in claim 6, said tapered surface extending along the major longitudinal portion of said lower tube.

8. In the apparatus defined in claim 6, said tapered surface being disposed near the upper end of said lower tube and said lower tube being of reduced diameter below said tape-red surface.

9. In the apparatus defined in claim 5, said peripheral means being an axially facing deformable seal ring adjacent the upper end of said lower tube.

10. A machine for filling containers with particulate solid products comprising a product reservoir, a downwardly extending open ended upper measuring tube communicating at its upper end with said reservoir, an open ended lower measuring tube mounted for free vertical movement on and communicating with the upper measuring tube with its lower end adapted to extend beyond the lower end of the upper measuring tube, means for bringing open top container to be filled with said product into telescoping relationship with said measuring tubes with the mouth of said container engaging and tightly sealing with said lower measuring tube, means for filling said measuring tubes level full from said reservoir while the lower tube is sealed with said container, and means for thereafter separating said container from said measuring tubes, whereby the controlled volume of the product in said tubes flows into said container.

11. In a machine for volumetrically filling containers accurately with predetermined volumes of products, a downwardly directed open ended upper measuring tube, an open ended lower measuring tu-be telescoping with the upper measuring tube, said lower tube being biased downwardly and freely reciprocatable with respect to the upper tube, means for moving an empty container into external telescoping relationship with the lower measuring tube so that the open end of said container surrounds and peripherally grips said lower tube to form an air tight seal, means for completely filling the combined telescoping measuring tubes with product while the container and tube are so sealed until the product level is flush with the upper end of the upper measuring tube, thereby forming a measure of predetermined volume; and means for withdrawing the container from the lower measuring tube, thereby allowing the supply of measured product to flow completely into the container.

12. A machine for filling containers comprising a source of flowable product to be filled into the containers, combination measuring tube means comprising a pair of downwardly extending open ended upper and lower measuring tubes controllably telescopically slidable with respect to each other and communicable with the source of product to be filled, means for placing a succession of containers to be filled in telescoping relationship about the lower measuring tube with the bottom of the lower measuring tube spaced above the inside bottom of the container and the mouth of the container peripherally sealed about the upper end of lower measuring tube, means for filling the combination measuring tube means to a certain desired height of the upper tube while retaining said seal and means for separating container and measuring tubes after said tubes are filled with product, whereby a controlled volume of product is deposited in the container.

13. An apparatus for filling containers with flowable product comprising combination measuring tube means consisting essentially of at least two open ended measuring tubes, including an uppermost tube and a lowermost tube, the tubes being telescopically slidable with respect to each other, said lowermost tube having an external smooth tapered surface of decreasing diameter toward its lower end, means for bringing the container into telescoping relationship with the combination measuring tube means with the tapered surface of the lowermost measuring tube in frictional tight engagement with the container open end, means for filling the combination measuring tube means to a certain desired height of the uppermost tube and means for separating the container and combination measuring tube means after said tube is filled with product, whereby the contents of the combination tube means are discharged into the container and a controlled volume of product is provided in the container.

14. In 'a machine for volumetrically filling containers accurately with predetermined volumes of particulate products, a plurality of downwardly directed open ended upper measuring tubes, an open ended lower measuring tube telescoping with each of said upper tubes, said lower tubes being biased downwardly and freely reciprocable vertically with respect to the upper tubes, means for moving empty containers into external telescoping relationship with the measuring tubes so that the open mouths of the containers become peripherally sealed around said lower tubes, means for completely filling the measuring tubes so that the product levels are flush with the upper ends of the upper measuring tubes, thereby forming measures of predetermined volumes, and means for withdrawing the containers from the measuring tubes, thereby allowing the supplies of measured product to flow completely into the containers.

15. In a machine for volumetrically filling containers accurately with predetermined amounts of finely divided products, a horizontally rotatable product supply reservoir capable of maintaining a constant head of product and having aflixed thereto an assembly of a plurality of circularly disposed downwardly directed open ended upper measuring tubes, an open ended lower measuring tube telescoping with each of said upper tubes, said lower tubes being biased downwardly and freely reciprocatable with respect to the upper tubes, means for placing empty containers in external telescoping relationship with the measuring tubes so that the open lower lower ends of said lower tubes are disposed above the bottoms of the containers and the open tops of said containers sealingly engage the external periphery of said lower tube, and means for subsequently withdrawing the containers from the tubes after the tubes have been filled with a measured amount of product, thereby allowing the entire measured supply of product to flow into the containers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,520 1/1916 Henes 14ll65 X 1,442,405 1/1923 Hawthorne 141-165 X 2,703,194 3/1955 White 141-3l1 X 3,052,269 9/1962 Manas 14ll66 X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A METHOD OF FILLING AN OPEN TOP OTHERWISE AIRTIGHT CONTAINER WITH PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF FLOWABLE PARTICULATE PRODUCT WHEREIN A FILLING TUBE DEPENDING FROM AND OPEN TO A RESERVOIR OF SAID PRODUCT IS INSERTED INTO THE CONTAINER THROUGH SAID OPEN TOP, THE STEPS OF PERIPHERALLY SEALING THE CONTAINER SUBSTANTIALLY AIR TIGHT WITH SAID FILLING TUBE BY RELATIVELY AXIALLY MOVING SAID CONTAINER AND TUBE UNTIL THE CONTAINER RIM SURROUNDING SAID OPENING PERIPHERALLY ENGAGES AN ANNULAR EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID TUBE IN AIRTIGHT RELATION WHILE INTRODUCING PRODUCT FROM THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE TUBE INTO THE CONTAINER UNTIL THE INSERTED TUBE IS FILLED TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, AND THEN SEPARATING THE CONTAINER FROM THE TUBE AND PERMITTING THE REMAINING CONTENTS OF THE TUBE TO DISCHARGE INTO THE CONTAINER. 